I'll bet you a dollar he won't know his own dog." "I don't believe I can keep from screaming right out when I see him, but I'll try.

Oh, won't it be fun!"-- and Betty clapped her hands in joyful anticipation of that exciting moment.
A nice little plan, but Master Thorny forgot the keen senses of the amiable animal snoring peacefully among his boots; and, when they stopped at the Lodge, he had barely time to say in a whisper, "Ben's coming; cover Sanch and let me get him in quick!" before the dog was out of the phaeton like a bombshell, and the approaching boy went down as if shot, for Sancho gave one leap, and the two rolled over and over, with a shout and a bark of rapturous recognition.
"Who is hurt ?" asked Mrs.Moss, running out with floury hands uplifted in alarm.
"Is it a bear ?" cried Bab, rushing after her, beater in hand, for a dancing bear was the delight of her heart.
"Sancho's found! Sancho's found!" shouted Thorny, throwing up his hat like a lunatic.
"Found, found, found!" echoed Betty, dancing wildly about as if she too had lost her little wits.
"Where?
how?
when?
who did it ?" asked Mrs.Moss, clapping her dusty hands delightedly.
"It isn't; it's an old dirty brown thing," stammered Bab, as the dog came uppermost for a minute, and then rooted into Ben's jacket as if he smelt a woodchuck, and was bound to have him out directly.
Then Thorny, with many interruptions from Betty, poured forth the wondrous tale, to which Bab and his mother listened breathlessly, while the muffins burned as black as a coal, and nobody cared a bit.
"My precious lamb, how did you dare to do such a thing ?" exclaimed Mrs.
Moss, hugging the small heroine with mingled admiration and alarm.
"I'd have dared, and slapped those horrid boys, too.

I wish I'd gone!" and Bab felt that she had for ever lost the chance of distinguishing herself.
"Who cut his tail off ?" demanded Ben, in a menacing tone, as he came uppermost in his turn, dusty, red and breathless, but radiant.
"The wretch who stole him, I suppose; and he deserves to be hung," answered Thorny, hotly.
"If ever I catch him, I'll--I'll cut his nose off," roared Ben, with such a vengeful glare that Sanch barked fiercely; and it was well that the unknown "wretch" was not there, for it would have gone hardly with him, since even gentle Betty frowned, while Bab brandished the egg-beater menacingly, and their mother indignantly declared that "it was too bad!" Relieved by this general outburst, they composed their outraged feelings; and while the returned wanderer went from one to another to receive a tender welcome from each, the story of his recovery was more calmly told.

Ben listened with his eye devouring the injured dog; and when Thorny paused, he turned to the little heroine, saying solemnly, as he laid her hand with his own on Sancho's head, "Betty Moss, I'll never forget what you did; from this minute half of Sanch is your truly own, and if I die you shall have the whole of him," and Ben sealed the precious gift with a sounding kiss on either chubby check.
Betty was so deeply touched by this noble bequest, that the blue eyes filled and would have overflowed if Sanch had not politely offered his tongue like a red pocket-handkerchlef, and so made her laugh the drops away, while Bab set the rest off by saying gloomily,-- "I mean to play with all the mad dogs I can find; then folks will think I'm smart and give me nice things." "Poor old Bab, I'll forgive you now, and lend you my half whenever you want it," said Ben, feeling at peace now with all mankind, including, girls who tagged.
"Come and show him to Celia," begged Thorny, eager to fight his battles over again.
"Better wash him up first; he's a sight to see, poor thing," suggested Mrs.Moss, as she ran in, suddenly remembering her muffins.
"It will take a lot of washings to get that brown stuff off.

See, his pretty, pink skin is all stained with it.